Air directing isolation apparatus



Oct. 22, 1963 PQTAPENRQ I 3,107,863

AIR DIRECTING ISOLATION APPARATUS Filed on. 51, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

Gennady Pofapenko ATTORNEY Oct. 22, 1963 POTAPENKO 3,107,863

AIR DIRECTING ISOLATION APPARATUS Filed Oct. 3],, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. Ge/mady Pofapenko 8Y6 M 1%TTORNEY United States Patent3,107,863 AIR DIRECTING ISOLATION APPARATUS Gennady Potapenko, Pasadena,Calif., assignor to Reginald Robbins, Pacific Palisades, Calif. FiledOct. 31, 196$), Ser. No. 66,112 7 Claims. (Cl. 240-14) This inventionrelates to air sterilization apparatus, and more particularly to suchapparatus which is adapted to focus or direct light and substantiallysterile air upon a predetermined area.

This application is a continuation-in-part application from U.S. patentapplication Serial No. 817,327 filed June 1, 1959 by Gennady Potapenkoand entitled Method and System for the Prevention of the Spread ofInfectious Disease by Airborne Microorganisms.

It is well known in the prior art that even though all presentlyaccepted techniques for maintaining surgical areas clean are followed byhospital personnel, some microorganisms are present in such areas evenduring the period of time that operations are being conducted. Thesemicroorganisms may be excreted by medical attendants during the periodwhen an operation is being performed for example, through talking,coughing, sneezing, or the like, even though surgical masks may be worn.Furthermore, the microorganisms may be residually present within thesurgical area and not removed by the usual disinfecting techniquesemployed in such areas.

Even though fresh air is constantlysupplied to the surgical area duringthe period of time that an operation is being performed themicroorganisms present therein cannot all be washed away by the constantfresh air supply. This is true even though the fresh air supply issterilized prior to supplying it to the surgical area. Since somemicroorganisms are for various reasons present within sugical areas,such as the operating rooms of hospitals, and doctors oflices, whereminor surgery is carried out, the break in the patients skin which isproduced by the incision may have these airborne microorganismsprecipitated therein. If such airborne microorganisms are soprecipitated into the incision, and the microorganism is an infectiousdisease carrying type, the patient may be thereby infected.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provideapparatus for effectively isolating the body areas surrounding asurgical incision from the surrounding atmosphere to thereby excludemicroorganisms which may be pesent in the surrounding air from the areaof the surgical incision.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus fordirecting a constant flow of sterile air upon a predetermined area whichapparatus does not further congest operating rooms, which may add to thecomfort of the medical attendants and which is readily and easilymovable and adjustable.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus fordirecting a constant flow of substantially sterile air upon apredetermined area which apparatus may be incorporated within existingoperating room equipment.

Other objects and advantages of the apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention will become apparent from a consideration of thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings which are presented by way of example only and are not intendedas a limitation upon the scope of the present invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical lamp in accordance with thepresent invention as it would appear in actual use;

3-,l7,8fi3 Patented Get. 22, 1963 FIG. 2. is an elevational view, partlyin cross-section, of a surgical lamp in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in cross-section, of analternative embodiment of a surgical lamp in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partly in cross-section, of an additionalembodiment of a surgical lamp in accordance with the present invention;and

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a surgical lamp in accordance with thepresent invention illustrating an additional manner in which it may beused.

In accordance with one aspect of the apparatus of the present invention,there is provided a surgical lamp for use in combination with a sourceof sterile air. The sterile air source is interconnected with the lampin order to provide a continuous flow of sterile air therethrough. Thesurgical lamp includes at least one opening therein which is adapted todirect the sterile air in such a manner as to cause it to fall upon apredetermined desired area which is normally that area immediatelysurrounding and including the area in which the incision is to be made.

in accordance with one specific aspect of the apparatus in accordancewith the present invention, there is provided a surgical lamp which isinterconnected'with a source of sterile air in such a manner that thesterile air may flow from the surgical lamp. Air directing means isadapted to focus or direct the sterile air upon the predetermineddesired area which may be the area of the incision as above pointed out.

It is well known in the prior art that most surgical areas, whether theybe located in an operating room within a hospital or in the surgicalarea of a doctors office, are frequently quite congested with theequipment which is necessary and desired to assist the doctor in theproper performance of the surgery. One piece of equipment which isalways utilized in the surgical areas is the surgical lamp. It is alsoknown that large amounts of heat are generated by surgical lamps. Thisheat adds to the discomfort of the doctor and the other surgicalattendants who may be present during the performance of an operation.Additional equipment within the surgical area to assist the doctor, toprotect the patient, or to increase the comfort of the doctor or hisassistants is therefore not normally desired under the present conditions.

In accordance with one feature of the surgicallamp of the presentinvention, each of the above objectives are carried out without addingto the equipment which is presently utilized in a surgical area.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof,there is illustrated for purposes of example only,la portion of anoperating room in a hospital in which a surgical lamp in accordance withthe present invention is appropriately mounted for use. The operatingroom includes a ceiling 11 having a plurality of openings 12therethrough. The openings 12 in the ceiling 11 provide a path for theflow of fresh air in a downward direction throughout the entireoperating room. The air which is inserted into the operating room by wayof openings 12 is preferably sterile air which is supplied to thesurgical area in accordance with the teachings of patent applicationSerial No. 817,327 filed June 1, 1959 above referred to. As is thereindisclosed, a source of sterilized air is provided and is directed into aspace between a false ceiling having a plurality of perforations thereinand'the actual ceiling of a room or rooms for example in a hospital. Thesterilized air is directed downwardly through the plurality of openingsin the false ceiling in such a manner as to form a continuously movingmass of air which is preferably maintained at a slightly positivepressure with respect to the corridors or other areas external to theroom under consideration. In this manner, the sterile air completelywashes the entire operating room in order to remove microorganismstherefrom and to thereby maintain the surgical area in a substantiallysterile condition. By maintaining the pressure within the surgical areaslightly positive with respect to the out-side area, microorganisms areprevented from entering the surgical area.

Although the air supplied to the operating room of FIG. 1 is preferablysterile, it should be expressly understood that such is not absolutelynecessary. It has been found that some rural or suburban areas which areremoved from business activity have relatively clean outside air ascompared to urban areas. Where such clean outside air is available anddoes not contain pathogenic microorganisms, it may be used instead ofthe preferred sterile air.

A surgical lamp 13 in accordance with the present invention, includes ahousing 14 which is mounted upon a rotatable standard 15 by means of abracket 16 which is pivotally attached to the housing 14 by a member 17and is pivotally attached to the standard 15 by the member 18. Thepivotal attachments to the members 17 and 18 permit easy and readyadjustment of the lamp 13 in order to provide illumination to aid thedoctors and other attendants who may be present during the performanceof an operation. The lamp 13 also includes a covering, such as a lensr19, which permits the passage of light therethrough. The surgical lampthus far described is the type presently used in many operating rooms.

Interconnected with the housing 14 of the lamp 13 is a conduit meanssuch as a flexible hose 21. The flexible hose 21 is connected to asource of sterilized air (not shown). Sterilized air is conducted fromthe source thereof through the hose 21 and into the interior of thesurgical lamp 13. The sterilized air is then caused to flow by adirecting means which will be more fully described below, through aplurality of openings 22 in the lens 19 to thereby provide a column ofsterilized air which may be directed by adjustment of the surgical lamp13 to fall upon the area in which an incision is to be made. Theparticular adjustment and position of the surgical lamp 13 is, ofcourse, determined by the position of a patient upon the surface of anoperating table 23.

In utilizing a surgical lamp in accordance with the present invention,and as illustrated in FIG. 1, a patient is placed upon the operatingtable 23 and prepared for surgery in the normal manner. Sterilized airis directed through the openings -12 in the false ceiling 11 of theoperating room to provide a continuous downward flow of a mass 24 ofsterile air throughout the entire operating room. The source of sterileair which is interconnected by way of hose 21 to the interior of thelamp 13 is then actuated and the lamp illuminated. The light from thelamp and the sterile air are then simultaneously directed by means ofadjustment of the lamp :13 upon the area in which the incision is to bemade during the performance of surgery. The sterile air is forcedthrough the plurality of openings 22 in the lens 19 in such a manner asto form a relatively fast moving column 25 of sterile air. The highervelocity of the column of air 25 as compared to the air flow 24 in theremainder of the room is indicated by the density of the arrowsrepresenting each.

By providing the relatively fast moving column of sterile air 25 andcausing it to impinge upon the area in which the surgical incision is tobe made, microorganisms which may be present throughout the remainder ofthe operating room and mayin fact be suspended within the slow movingair mass 24 in the remainder of the room are prevented from entering thearea of the incision. If microorganisms approach the area of theincision, they are unable to penetrate the colurrm 25 of sterile airwhich is directed from the surgical lamp 13. Although a por- 4 tion ofthe air mass 24 surrounding the sterile air column 25 may be picked upby the fringe areas thereof, such secondary air will not be capable ofpenetrating to the interior portion of the column 25 of sterile air andthereby are unable to reach the area of the incision. Furthermore, bymaintaining the air within the remainder of the operating room assterile as is possible under the circumstances, very little likelihoodof picking up secondary air containing disease-carrying microorganismsis presented.

It has been found that an air flow rate of approximately cubic feet perminute from a lamp having a diameter across the lens of 36 inches andadjusted to be no more than 6 feet from the surface of the operatingtable provides excellent results.

One embodiment of a surgical lamp in accordance with the presentinvention is illustrated in FIG. 2 to which reference is hereby made. Asis therein shown, a surgical lamp 31 is mounted upon a mounting bracket32 by means of movable mounting arms 33. The lamp includes a source ofillumination 34 which is surrounded by a reflecting means 35. The lamp31 includes a housing 36 which has a skirt 37 about the lower edgethereof. The

skirt 37 may be manufactured integrally with the housing 36 as shown or,alternatively, may be an additional fixture which is attached to thehousing 36 by bolts, rivets, welding or in accordance with other wellknown techniques. A light transparent member or lens 38 is insertedwithin the interior of the lamp and appropriately supported at thejuncture between the housing 36 and the skirt 37. The lens 38 may bemade of any light transparent material which is desired. An additionallens 39 is provided at the exterior of the skirt 37. The lenses 38 and39 along the skirt 37 define a space 41. Openings 42 are provided withinthe lens 39 for the purposeto be more fully described below.

As was above pointed out, surgical lamps transmit heat as well as light.The transmitted heat causes discomfort to the doctors and other surgicalattendants. Such transmitted heat may be eliminated in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with this presently preferred embodiment, the member 38 isconstructed of a material which transmits substantially all of the lightbut which either reflects or absorbs substantially all of the heatradiated by light source 34. One example of such a material is adichroic filter. A dichroic filter consists of a succession of thinlayers of two light transparent substances. Each of the two substanceshas a different index of refraction. By properly selecting the indicesof refraction and the thickness of layers, such a filter transmitsapproximately 95 percent of the incident light but reflectsapproximately percent of the incident heat radiation. Such a dichroicfilter is manufactured by the Fisch-Schurman Corporation, New Rochelle,New York as Type XUR-9 6. As a result of the reflected heat, ventilatingports 40 are provided in the housing 36 of the lamp (FIG. 2).

Alternatively, a heat absorbing substance which transmits light maybeused in place of the dichroic filter. One example of such a structure isa concentrated aqueous solution of alum supported within an appropriatestructure such as a pair of thin glass plates.

When utilizing a structure of the type above described, it should bereadily apparent that cool air may be forced through the openings 42 tominimize the discomfort of the doctors.

A conduit, such as a flexible hose 43 (FIG. 2), has one end connected tothe space 41 by means of a fitting 44 which cooperates with the skirt37. the flexible hose 43 is attached to a source 45 of sterile air tothe art. However, preferably the source 45 should be of the typedescribed in patent application Serial No. 704,485, tiled December 25,1957 by Gennady Potapenko and entitled Method and Apparatus for theSterilization The other end of' The source 45 of sterile air may be anysource known.

of This device provides for the destruction of airborne organismscontained in a flowing air stream by subjeoting such streams to highintensity ultraviolet radiation at very close range. The irradiationoccurs in a chamber or duct which is preferably in the form of acylinder hav ing an inner surface which is highly reflective forradiation in the germicidal range. Inside of the chamber is a bafflesystem which produces turbulence and directs the air flow in a cyclonicpattern to insure complete exposure of all airborne particles to thelethal rays which emanate from the ultraviolet generator. This generatoror tube extends longitudinally through the core of the chamber. In atypical unit of this type, for example, one such chamber operating at anair flow rate of 100 cubic feet per minute kills in excess of 99.9percent of all microorganisms present in the air in a single passage.The device described eliminates the disadvantages of previous exposedultraviolet techniques for the control of airborne microorganisms. Thedevice is based upon the fact that the effectiveness of radiation infree air is inversely proportional to the square of the distance of themicroorganisms from the source of germicidal energy and is a directfunction of time and exposure. Design of the sterilizing unit referredto insures that no microorganism passing through the chamber is morethan approximately three inches from the ultraviolet tube.

An additional source 46 of sterile air, which may be a difiuserconnected to an air sterilization system of the type described isapplication Serial No. 817,327 above referred to, provides a flow ofsterile air as illustrated by the arrows 49 in the space providedbetween the ceiling 47 and the false ceiling 48 of the operating room.The air flow 49 then passes through a plurality of openings provided inthe false ceiling 48 and into the operating room as indicated by thearrows 51 in order to provide a continuous downward flow of sterile airthroughout the operating room. Sterile air from the source 45 thereofflows through the flexible hose 43 as indicated by arrows 43a and intothe space 41 between the lenses 38 and 39. This flow of air is indicatedby the arrows 52. The mass of air 52 within the space 41 is then forcedthrough a plurality of openings 42 in the lens 39 to thereby provide acolumn 53 of sterile air.

By regulating the air flow from the sterile air source 45, the column ofair 53 may be caused to move relatively fast as compared to the movementof the sterile air 51 throughout the remainder of the operating room.The surgical lamp 31 may then be adjusted in any manner which is desiredin order to focus or direct the column of air 53 along with the lightfrom the illuminating means 34 upon the area in which the incision is tobe made during the performance of the operation. As can be seen fromFIG. 2, the sterile air which enters the space 41 is maintained separateand apart from the illuminating source 34. The air column 53 istherefore not heated by the illuminating means 34 when a heat reflectingstructure of the type [above described is utilized. Air conditioningmeans may be used in conjunction with the air sterilizing means 45 tothereby provide not only sterile air but conditioned air which may, forexample, be cooled. The column of air 53 then tends not only tothoroughly sterilize the area in which the incision is to be made, butalso to add to the comfort of the doctor and other attendants who areperforming the operation.

It should of course be understood that where a source of cold air isavail-able and the temperature thereof may be adjusted in apredetermined manner, the member 38 may be constructed of ordinaryglass. In such a case, the temperature of the air would be set to absorbthe transmitted heat and still remain somewhat cool.

Alternatively, the flow of sterile air may be passed directly through asurgical lamp of the type illustrated in FIG. 3. As is therein shown, ahose 56' is interconnected between a source of sterile air 57 and thehousing 58 of a lamp 64) in accordance with the present inven- 6. tion.As is illustrated in FIG. 3, the source of sterile air 57 may be adiffuser which is interconnected with the air sterilization system forthe entire operating room and in this manner a portion of the air ispicked up and supplied by flexible hose 56 to the interior of the lamp60. The air then passes through the interior of the lamp 60 and througha plurality of openings provided in the lens 61 thereof to therebyprovide a column of sterile air as illustrated by the arrows 62. Thelamp 60 may be adjusted as heretofore described in order to direct thecolumn 62 of sterile air upon the area in which an incision is to bemade.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated still another embodimentof a surgical lamp in accordance with the present invention. As istherein shown, a lamp 65 includes a housing 66 containing a source ofillumination 67. The interior of the housing 66 operates as a refleetingmedium for the light from illuminating means 67. As is illustrated inFIG. 4, there is no lens or other covering over the opening of thehousing 66. The light therefore impinges directly from the illuminatingsource and the reflecting surface of the housing 66 upon the area of thepatient in which the incision is to be made. An apron 68 is providedabout the exterior of the housing 66 and is positioned about thelowermost portion thereof. As can be seen, the apron 68 cooperates withthe exterior surfaces of the housing 66 to provide a substantiallyenclosed area 70 having an opening 71 about the periphery of the lamp65. The opening 71 may be continuous or may be a plurality of spacedopenings in the apron 68. Connected to the apron 68 is a flexible hose72 which is in turn connected to a source of sterile air 73. Inutilizing the surgical lamp as illustrated in FIG. 4, sterile air iscaused to flow through the hose 72 as indicated by the arrows 74 andinto the space 70 provided by the apron 68. The air then flows from thespace 70 7 through the opening 71 about the periphery of the lamp 65.The particular configuration of the apron and the opening 71 permits acolumn of air 75 to be provided and to be directed downwardly as isindicated by the arrows. The apron 68 therefore effectively focuses thesterile air flow 75 in such a manner as to cause it to impinge upon thedesired area of the patient in which the incision is to be made. Apron68 can be added to the lamp shown in FIG. 2 to provide an additionaloutlet for sterile air.

Surgical lamps in accordance with the present invention may also beprovided as is illustrated in FIG. 5 upon a stand 81. The lamp may be ofany particular configuration as above described and is interconnected byway of a flexible hose 82 to a source of sterilized air 83. The lamp 80which is mounted upon the stand 81 may then be placed at any positionwithin the operating room which is desired. Typically two or more ofsuch lamps may be utilized within a particular operating room in orderto eliminate the shadows which might be formed with one light source. Insuch a case, a plurality of columns of sterile air as illustrated at 84in FIG. 5 are available to be focused upon the area in which theincision is to be made thereby providingan intense stream of sterile airto effectively isolate the incision area of the patient from thesurrounding atmosphere.

There has thus been disclosed a surgical lamp which is capable ofdirecting or focusing a continuous flow of sterile air upon apredetermined area of a patient which lamp does not add additionalequipment to operating rooms and may be used to increase the comfort ofthe personnel present within the operating room.

What is claimed is:

1. A surgical lamp for use in combination with a source of substantiallysterile air for simultaneously directing light and sterile air upon apredetermined area, said lamp comprising a housing defining an openingtherein adapted to receive conduit means from said source of sterile airfor directing sterile air to at least a portion of said housing,illuminating means disposed within said housing, and a light transparentmember substantially opaque to heat and disposed over the face ofsaid-housing, said member having a plurality of openings therein forforming a column of sterile air to be directed upon said predeterminedarea.

2. A surgical lamp for use in combination with a source of substantiallysterile air for simultaneously directing light and sterile air upon apredetermined area, said lamp comprising a housing, illuminating meansdisposed within said housingand air directing means including a dichroicfilter and defining at least one opening therein afiixed to theperiphery of said housing, said air directing means being adapted toreceive a conduit from said source of sterile air to thereby provide aflow of said air into said air directing means, said at least oneopening being adapted to direct said sterile air upon said predeterminedarea.

3. A surgical lamp for use in combination with a source of substantiallysterile air for simultaneously directing light and sterile air upon apredetermined area, said lamp comprising a housing defining an openingtherein adapted to receive conduit means from said source of sterile airfor directing sterile air to at least a portion of said housing,illuminating means disposed within said housing, a first lighttransparent member disposed beneath said illuminating means and withinsaid housing, said first member being substantially non-transmitting toheat radiation, and a second light transparent member disposed Withinsaid housing and spaced from and beneat'h said first member to therebyform a space for receiving said sterile air, said second member defininga plurality of openings therein for forming a column of sterile air tobe directed upon said predetermined area.

said lamp comprising a housing, illuminating means dis-' posed Withinsaid housing, said housing having a skirt member affixed to andextending from the periphery thereof, a first light transparent memberdisposed within said skirt member, and a second light transparent memberdisposed within said skirt member and spaced from said first member todefine a space, said skirt defining an opening and adapted to receiveconduit means from said source of sterile air to thereby direct saidsterile air into said space, said second member defining a pluralityv ofopenings therein to form a column of sterile air to be directed uponsaid predetermined area.

7. A surgical lamp in accordance with claim 6 in which said first andsecond members are glass and said air is cooled to thereby absorb heatradiated by said source of illumination.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,823,535 2,215,634 Collins et al Sept. 24, 1940 2,681,061 Modell June15, 1954' 2,845,855

Frutkow et al. Sept. 15; 1931- Burns Aug. 5, 19S8-

1. A SURGICAL LAMP FOR USE IN COMBINATION WITH A SOURCE OF SUBSTANTIALLYSTERILE AIR FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DIRECTING LIGHT AND STERILE AIR UPON APREDETERMINED AREA, SAID LAMP COMPRISING A HOUSING DEFINING AN OPENINGTHEREIN ADAPTED TO RECEIVE CONDUIT MEANS FROM SAID SOURCE OF STERILE AIRFOR DIRECTING STERILE AIR TO AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID HOUSING,ILLUMINATING MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING, AND A LIGHT TRANSPARENTMEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY OPAQUE TO HEAT AND DISPOSED OVER THE FACE OF SAIDHOUSING, SAID MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS THEREIN FOR FORMINGA COLUMN OF STERILE AIR TO BE DIRECTED UPON SAID PREDETERMINED AREA. 2.A SURGICAL LAMP FOR USE IN COMBINATION WITH A SOURCE OF SUBSTANTIALLYSTERILE AIR FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DIRECTING LIGHT AND STERILE AIR UPON APREDETERMINED AREA, SAID LAMP COMPRISING A HOUSING, ILLUMINATING MEANSDISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING, AND AIR DIRECTING MEANS INCLUDING INDICHORIC FILTER AND DEFINING AT LEAST ONE OPENING THEREIN AFFIXED TO THEPERIPHERY OF SAID HOUSING, SAID AIR DIRECTING MEANS BEING ADAPTED TORECEIVE A CONDUIT FROM SAID SOURCE OF STERILE AIR TO THEREBY PROVIDE AFLOW OF SAID AIR INTO SAID AIR DIRECTING MEANS, SAID AT LEAST ONEOPENING BEING ADAPTED TO DIRECT SAID STERILE AIR UPON SAID PREDETERMINEDAREA.